Why it’s a Bad Idea for Businesses to Allow Local Administrator Access
One of the best things companies can do to keep their network and data secure is to remove local administrator access on all their computers.
Local administrator access gives a user complete control over their computer, allowing them to install and uninstall software, delete system or network files, add or remove users, and more. This may seem counterintuitive to remove that access, especially if it’s an owner, CEO, CFO or another important , but it’s also a major security risk that attackers attempt to exploit.
It only takes one person with local administrator access for a hacker to mount an attack from their computer to get to all your company’s most sensitive data.
Granting Local Administrator Access is a Security Risk
Think of each user that has local administrator access as having a master key to your home. The more master keys there are, the more opportunities an attacker has to steal one of those master keys and gain access to your company’s network and data.
All it takes is one click from a legitimate-looking email to install spyware or malware on your computer meant to steal money, data or disrupt activities. Even with the most well-intentioned and responsible employees, all software has bugs that can be manipulated by hackers to get access to your network.
Once a hacker has access to an account with local administrator access rights, they can install and run any software they want to mount an attack on your business. They could even dwell for months before launching an attack.
The idea is to reduce the “keys” available to those who want to harm your company.
What are some other reasons to remove local administration access from your company’s computers?
Vital system files could be deleted: A user with local administrator access can open, modify or delete any file on their computer. That could include vital files needed to run the Windows operating system down to files needed to run Microsoft Word.
An employee even could mistakenly delete or modify files with no intention of causing harm, rendering the computer useless until it is reformatted, wasting valuable time and money.
Stop or disable antivirus services: A user with local administrator access can stop or disable any antivirus service you have installed, opening your computer to even more security threats.
Give persistent access to bad actors outside the company: A user with local administrator access can knowingly or unknowingly make it easier for an attacker to gain access to your company’s network by changing the privileges of current users.
Who Should Have Local Administrator Access for My Company?
Your information technology team is the most adept and knowledgeable when it comes to managing access to your company’s network and data.
The IT industry encourages a security stance of the “principle of least privilege” for any account within a company. The principle of least privilege means every employee is given the minimum level of permissions required to do their job. The idea is the more privileges given, the more responsibility and, ultimately, the more risk for the company.
The biggest downside of this stance is inconvenience. If any employee needs to install or run a certain program, they would need to be granted permission from the IT team. It’s a hassle to reach out to your IT team and wait for a response, but it reduces security vulnerabilities.
There are programs your IT team may use that give them a way to allow or deny access on a real-time basis. These programs alert the technician when someone is attempting to do something above their permission level, and the technician can react within minutes.
The technician can allow or deny just the current request or create a rule for that one user, a group of users or all users.
While having your local administrator access removed may be inconvenient, it goes a long way toward securing your company’s data and systems.
West Michigan Managed Service Provider
Are you looking to increase security for your company’s network and data? Contact Hungerford Technologies to see how we can help keep your business running smoothly while increasing productivity, security and profitability.
